Obituary of Creta Bennett Mapes

IN LOVING MEMORY OF CRETA ARLENE MAPES Creta Arlene Mapes, daughter of Jerome and Laura (Folley) Van Winkle, was born May 14, 1917, in Almena, Kansas, and passed away at Via Christi Village in Hays, Kansas, on March 12, 2014, at the age of 96. Creta attended the Almena Grade and Rural High Schools & Ft. Hays State College. On July 15, 1941, she married Arby Oscar Bennett in Almena. They made their home farming in southeast Norton County until 1951, when they moved to Norton. Creta and Arby had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary just prior to Arby's death on November 4, 1992. On March 20, 1993, Creta married Loyal R. Mapes in Norton. They made their home in Norton and spent 20 years together and truly enjoyed this time. They had recently moved to Via Christi Village in Hays, due to their health. She broke her leg in January 2014, and was bed fast since that time. Creta was an elementary school teacher and taught schools in rural Almena, Calvert, and Norton. Her last years of teaching were spent at the 2nd grade level at the Eisenhower Elementary School. She attended the Full Gospel Community Church with her first husband for 51 years and later attended the First Church of God with her husband, Loyal, after their marriage. Survivors include: her husband, Loyal Mapes, Via Christi Village, Hays; one stepson and his wife, Eldon and Phyllis Mapes, Baldwin City, Kansas; one stepdaughter and her husband, Leta and Larry Rice, La Feria, Texas; four step-granchildren, Daveda, and husband, Kent Leppke, Bonner Springs, Kansas; Evan Mapes, Houston, Texas; Melissa, and husband, Travis Russell, Wichita, Kansas; Brant, and wife, DeLynn Rice, Hays; seven step-great-grandchildren, Brandon and Danae Leppke, Landry Rice, Cooper Russell, Kelby Rice, Bryler Russell, and Chloe Rice; other relatives and friends. Creta was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Arby Bennett, and one brother, Warren Van Winkle. A memorial has been established to the Creta Mapes Memorial Fund.